From Mauka to Makai: Changing Landscapes on Lānaʻi
The Lānaʻi We Know
The story of Lānaʻi's landscape is a reflection of shifting relationships between people and place. Native Hawaiians, who thrived on Lānaʻi sustainably for hundreds of years, were experts at living within the wealth and limitation of their natural environment. While some of their physical impact on the landscape remain visible today with heiau (sites of ceremonial and spiritual significance) and loko iʻa (fishponds), the majority of landscape changes occurred post-Western contact in Hawaiʻi.
As more foreigners arrived to Lānaʻi, the landscape was altered to leverage resources for economic gain.
Modern economic industries such as ranching, pineapple, and most recently, tourism, have left lasting impacts on the island's landscape. From Mauka to Makai: Changing Landscapes on Lānaʻi invites you on a journey to explore Lānaʻi's past as a way to better understand the Lānaʻi we know today.
Kōʻele
Kōʻele was once a bustling community. The hub of ranching operations on the island, Kōʻele was the major upland community in Lānaʻi's modern history. Though not as famous as the pineapple plantation era, ranching was actually the longest-run economic industry the island has ever known, with formal ranching operations running from approximately 1854 to 1951. The introduction of grazing animals such as sheep and cattle forever changed the landscape of the island as these animals steadily ate away at the native landscape.
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Lānaʻi City
Lānaʻi City was developed in the 1920s after James Dole purchased the island in 1922. In order to support the growing pineapple industry for the island, plans for building the town were drawn up in early 1923. A native of Connecticut, Dole modeled the town's design off of the New England "town square" concept, with a park in the middle surrounded by and connected by streets laid out in a grid pattern. Many of the buildings constructed around Dole Park during this time remain and are frequented by locals today. Pine Isle Market, for example, was originally used as quarters for single men, later served as the Plantation Bakery, and then a Mer-Mart before Pine Isle opened in 1951. Our free Lānaʻi Guide App shares detailed information about changing uses of Lānaʻi City buildings.
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Pineapple Fields
The pineapple plantation era on Lānaʻi lasted for 70 years. At its peak, the island was home to the largest pineapple plantation in the world, with nearly 20,000 acres of pineapple under cultivation. Growing pineapple at this scale forever changed the island's landscape, with many of the field outlines and black plastic mulch paper still visible today.
The rise of the industry also prompted an influx of those looking for work and better lives for themselves and their families. Workers came from all over the world, including from the Philippines, Japan, Korea, China, and Puerto Rico. The multicultural society and the tight-knit community that was formed during this time is an important legacy for our island community.
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Hulopoʻe
A beloved place of Lānaʻi people, Hulopoʻe holds many memories for those who have grown up and lived on the island. Though it was not always an easy place to get to, the paving of the road made this beach much more accessible. Before hotel construction began in the late 1980s, the land above Hulopoʻe Bay was clear from any buildings. The large swimming pond along the rocky coastline--"Keiki Pond," as many locals call it--was actually a man-made feature made by plantation workers during the 1951 strike as a wading pool for Lānaʻi people. Hulopoʻe is a wahi pana (storied place) on Lānaʻi and is worthy of respect and care. The Hulopoʻe-Mānele region is also designated as a protected marine conservation site and is home to one of the largest native ʻuaʻu kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) populations in the islands.
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Mānele
Mānele was home to a thriving Hawaiian community in ancient times. Remains of rock wall house foundations and a heiau are still visible today. After Western contact, Mānele was utilized as a regular landing site for interisland steamers throughout the 1800s, and remnants from the original breakwater could still be seen in 1950. In 1920, "Pipi Chute" was constructed along the cliffs in order to ship the cattle raised on Lānaʻi interisland.
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Kaumālapaʻu
Kaumālapaʻu was developed as a harbor after James Dole purchased the island in 1922. In order for plantation operations to be viable, a port was needed not only to export large loads of harvested pineapple but also to import supplies necessary to sustain the new community in Lānaʻi City. While other locations were considered, it was ultimately decided that Kaumālapaʻu would be the harbor location. At one time, there was also a harbor community, complete with homes and a restaurant. Today, the harbor still serves as an important lifeline for the people of Lānaʻi.
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Keōmoku
Keōmoku served as the hub of residency and commerce on Lānaʻi between 1899 and the 1920s. Interisland travel between Keōmoku and Lāhaina was common during this time. Also, Frederick and Talula Gibson Hayselden developed the Maunalei Sugar Company, which only lasted from 1899-1901. The plantation, however, had established a large community with houses, stores, an inn, a sugar mill, and hospital and employed 800 people, mostly of Japanese descent. There were also people of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Portuguese descent living at Keōmoku at this time. By the 1930s, however, the majority of the Keōmoku village population had moved to the upland regions of Lānaʻi. Remains of the bustling community that existed are evident with the Ka Lanakila Church (which Lānaʻi CHC helped to restore in 2010), the Lānaʻi-Lāhaina boat, a bread oven, and the Maunalei Sugar Company mill site.
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The Biocultural Landscape
Lānaʻi has changed much in modern history. Houses have come and gone at Keōmoku and Kaumālapaʻu, while places like Mānele Harbor and Lānaʻi City have continued to develop. The common thread amongst all these places is our honuaola--the biocultural landscape. Unfortunately, environmental degradation of our land and seas has been a constant for the past two centuries. Introduced animals like deer and mouflon sheep continue to ravage the landscape. Native plants only exist in pockets amongst countless invasive plant species, which grow out of control.
Modern economic industries like ranching and pineapple production have contributed to the deterioration of our natural environment, but there is still hope for us to restore health to our beloved ʻāina. This exhibit showcases the ever evolving and dynamic relationship between people and place. We hope this exhibit creates a dialogue between the past and present in order to create an informed, bright future for Lānaʻi.
Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center is dedicated to ensuring our island is cared for so that future generations can enjoy a thriving landscape and community. We invite you to check out our stewardship and educational programs and to support our work by making a donation.
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Help us preserve our past
Lānaʻi has changed much in the last 200 years and continues to evolve. While all of these changes are certainly part of our Lānaʻi today, we believe we must know that past in order to create a better future for our community and our island. Our motto: Honoring the Past, Enriching the Future encompasses this goal.
This virtual exhibit is part of the "Our Living History: Lānaʻi Digital Archive" project. We have diligently worked with our archivist to organize and continue digitization of our collections, and this exhibit is a product of our continued commitment to making our history accessible by all.
If you have your own Lānaʻi photos to share, we invite you to reach out and join us in our journey to care for our island's rich history, culture, and values.
We are grateful for the support of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority's Community Enrichment Program for making this virtual exhibit possible!
